Success is not how many zeroes your bank account has. It's about making the most of the life you have.

So many financial dreams are thwarted by the failure to act upon good intentions.

The only way you will ever permanently take control of your financial life is to dig deep and fix the root problem.

A big part of financial freedom is having your heart and mind free from worry about the what-ifs of life.

Here's my gift-giving rule: Respect your current financial situation.

Money you won't need to use for at least seven years is money for investing. The goal here is to have your account grow over time to help you finance a distant goal, such as building a retirement fund. Since your goal is in the future, money for investing belongs in stocks.

No one's ever achieved financial fitness with a January resolution that's abandoned by February.

Estate planning is an important and everlasting gift you can give your family. And setting up a smooth inheritance isn't as hard as you might think.

There is no law saying you have to die before your assets can be passed to loved ones. In fact, gifting earlier can be a lovely way to witness how your money helps your family thrive.

The prenup needs to be drawn up months before the wedding, not days - it's not something you slap together and sign in the car on the way to the ceremony. A shotgun prenup might not hold up in court.

We never had it as rough as the kids have it today. Look at the price of a gallon of gas or a piece of real estate or a college education.

When you're happy you find pure joy in your life. There are no regrets in this state of happiness - and that's a goal worth striving for in all areas of your life.

A wise woman recognizes when her life is out of balance and summons the courage to act to correct it, she knows the meaning of true generosity, happiness is the reward for a life lived in harmony, with a courage and grace.

True generosity is an offering; given freely and out of pure love. No strings attached. No expectations. Time and love are the most valuable possession you can share.

Understand and accept the cycles of money. The setbacks you may have today or next year will not keep you from financial freedom. If you hold on to your goals and dreams, you will get there.

You must recognize, embrace, and be honest about what is real for you today and allow that understanding to inform the choices you make. Only then will you be able to build the future of your dreams.

Cash - in savings accounts, short-term CDs or money market deposits - is great for an emergency fund. But to fulfill a long-term investment goal like funding your retirement, consider buying stocks. The more distant your financial target, the longer inflation will gnaw at the purchasing power of your money.

When you are grateful - when you can see what you have - you unlock blessings to flow in your life.

You must trust yourself more than you trust others. Pay attention to your inner voice - it will tell you if how and in what you are investing is right for you.

A revocable living trust allows your heirs to avoid probate entirely and keeps you in complete control of your finances while you're alive. You can always make changes to what's in the trust and to how you'd ultimately like it managed or disbursed.

I want to be clear here: It does not matter what you say in your will or trust; the beneficiary document attached to your IRA accounts and your life insurance policy overrides what you say elsewhere. If you want to change the beneficiary, you must change the beneficiary document.

Prenups are so unromantic - a sign of distrust, not love. Time for a reality check, my friends. First, drawing up a prenuptial agreement together is a sign of incredible trust and financial openness - you're fooling yourself if you think you can achieve complete intimacy without it.

The key to making money is to stay invested.

Your goal should be to pay off your credit card bills in full at the end of each month and set aside money toward your emergency savings.

To make the most of your money, I recommend sticking with mutual funds that don't charge a commission when you buy or sell.

The foundation of a financial fresh start actually has nothing to do with money or specific financial dos and don'ts.

The foundation of a financial fresh start actually has nothing to do with money or specific financial dos and don'ts. The first, and most difficult, step is to absolve yourself and your spouse or partner of any guilt.

Learn to recognize true wealth. Money itself will not make you financially free. That comes as a result of only that powerful state of mind which tells us that we are worth far more than our money.

Many people are in the dark when it comes to money, and I'm going to turn on the lights.

Money is such an amazing teacher: What you choose to do with your money shows whether you are truly powerful or powerless.

In all realms of life it takes courage to stretch your limits, express your power, and fulfill your potential... it's no different in the financial realm.

A wise woman knows how to summon her courage and do what is right, rather than what is easy.

Courage is not always about action. It takes courage to do nothing rather than do something that you do not believe in or understand.

Owning a home is a keystone of wealth - both financial affluence and emotional security.

It's easy to underestimate the real cost of home ownership.

While a reverse mortgage can indeed be a viable way to generate income, it is very important to understand that after you take out a reverse mortgage, you will still be responsible for paying the property tax, the insurance premium, and all the maintenance costs for your home.

If a child, a spouse, a life partner, or a parent depends on you and your income, you need life insurance.